Tuesday, January 4, 2011

Sunday Walk in the Park. This is the first of a new monthly program (on second Sundays) aimed at bringing together the members of the Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park to share in the park's beautiful trails. Led by Nick Shema, this inaugural, two-hour hike will start at the park's Kilauea Visitor Center. We will follow the Crater Rim Trail to the Byron Ledge Trail, proceed down this trail to the curt-off to the Halema'uma'u Trail, then travel up that trail to the 'Iliahi Trail. There, we will take a left toward Steam Vents and then follow the Sulphur Banks Trail back to the Kilauea Visitor Center. Total roundtrip distance is approximately 3 miles with a 400' vertical descent and ascent. The hike is free to Friends members (though non-members are welcome to join the Friends in order to attend). To register, contact Nick Shema at (808) 967-8648 or

Volunteer Forest Restoration Project. This month we will plant native species in the koa forest on the Mauna Loa strip of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park. We will work in a former cattle pasture that is being transformed into a diverse native forest by planting nursery-reared seedlings. We will also learn about the park's native forest restoration program. Volunteers should be at least 14 years old, and be able to hike at least one mile over uneven terrain through brush in an area with a moderate slope. Because native seedlings have already been planted in the area, we will have to be careful in moving through the understory. Our goal is a crew of 12 people, and a pre-registration is required. To register, contact Friends of Hawaii Volcanoes National Park at (808) 985-7373 or